Insole for boots or shoes



the rrn- STATES PATENT OFFICE...

W'ILLIAM H. RUSSELL, OF TRANQUILLITY, NEW JERSEY.

ENSOLE FOR BOOTS OR SHOES.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 857,942, dated February15, I887.

(No model.)

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that 1. WILLIAM H. RUssnLL, a citizen of the United States,residing at Tranquillity, in the county of Sussex and State of NewJersey, have invented new and useful Improvements in Boots or Shoes, ofwhich the following is a specification.

This invention relates to a pad for footwearsuch, for example, as boots,shoes, or slippersas fully set forth in the following specification andclaims, and illustratedin the accompanying drawings, in which Figure 1is a side elevation, partly in section, of a shoe or gaiter containingmy invention. Fig. 2 is a plan view of an insole. Fig. 3 is a detailview of a heel-pad. Fig. 4. is a detail view of a toe-pad.

Similar letters indicate corresponding parts.

In the drawings, A represents a strip or ridge of elasticniaterial-such, for example, as cork or sol't rubber. The strip or ridgeA is formed with orsecured to abase, O, of suitable material-such asleather, soft rubber, or corksaid ridgeA being convex in cross-sectionand extending across the base in a curved line. The ends of the ridgeare joined to a transverse ridge, B, also convex in cross-section andextending across the base O. The base is placed in a boot or shoe sothat the heel of the person will rest snugly in the recess formed by theridges A and B, the latter ridge serving as an elastic or yielding restfor theforward part of theheel. As shown, apad is also placed in theboot or shoe under the ball of the foot, near the toes. This toe-padcomprises a ridge, D, convex in cross-section, and extending in a curvedline across a basepiece, 0, similar to the base-piece having the ridgesA and B.

The ridge A for the heel-pad is so shaped as to conform to the generaloutline of the heel, and the ridge D for the toe-pad is so formed as tosit snugly against the forward part of the ball of the foot, near thetoes. In general, the ridges have a rounded outline.

A curved ridge, E, also convex in crossseotion,cxtends in a curved lineacross the base 0 of the curved ridge D, the said ridge E occupying aposition directly in rear of the ball of the foot.

The heel-pad and toe-pad may be placed in a boot or shoe after the bootor shoe is made up and finished; or the pad or pads may be placed into ahoot or shoe prior to the insertion of the insole F, so that the insolerests over the pad or pads, as seen in Fig. 1. In case the insole restsover a pad, it is of advantage to cut the insole at one or more places,as seen in Fig. 4 at G, so as to allow the insole to sink down alongsideof the ridges. Recesses are thus formed for allowing the heel and ballof the foot to come into firm contact with the ridges. 1

As in walking most of the jar orstrain pro duced is brought to bear onthe heel of the foot, itis in general only necessary to employ aheelpad. A toe-pad is, however, an advantage, particularly in the caseof diseased or infirm persons.

The use of pads, as above described, deadens the jars or shocks producedin walking. The bases 0 for the ridges may be so formed as to fit snuglyinto a heel or toe of a boot or shoe.

.Vhat I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

1. A heel-pad for boots or shoes, consisting of a base-piece having thecurved ridge A, extending across the base-piece, and the transverseridge B on said base-piece in advance of the curved ridge, substantiallyas described.

2. A pad for boots or shoes, consisting of a base-piece having the twocurved ridges D and E, extending across the base-piece for supportingthe front and rear portions of the ball of the foot, substantially asdescribed.

3. The combination, with an insole, F, having the transverse opening Gat its heel end, of the heel-pad consisting of a base-piece having aridge, A, extending across the base piece and entering the opening inthe insole, substantially as described.

4. In a boot or shoe, the combination, with the insole F, having thetransverse openings G G in its heel and toe portions, of the heel padconsisting of a base-piece having the transverse ridge A, and the tocpadconsisting of the base-piece having the two ridges D and E, extending incurved lines across said basepiece, substantially as and for the purposede scribed.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand and seal in thepresence of two subscribing witnesses.

\VM. H. RUSSELL- [L. 8.] lVitnesses:

W. HAUFF, E. F. KASTENHUBER.

KOO

